Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Biodiversity and Conservation)

To be read in conjunction with the program of study requirements for the Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Specialisations).

The Biodiversity and Conservation Specialisation requires four years of full-time study (or the equivalent part-time). The Specialisation is offered by the College of Science and Engineering.

• Admission requirements
• Course aims
• Learning outcomes
• Program of study
• Combined degrees

Admission requirements

The minimum requirements for consideration for entry to all undergraduate courses are specified in detail in the University Entry Requirements.

There are no formal prerequisites for the Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Biodiversity and Conservation) but a knowledge of Mathematics, Physics or Chemistry to SACE Stage 1 is desirable.

Course aims

The program of study aims to provide students with a broad-based foundation in biodiversity and conservation biology and allied areas, together with the ability to acquire extensive subject knowledge in the discipline. It also aims to develop a range of transferable research, analytical and communication skills including the capacity to:

• understand and apply relevant scientific principles in the area of conservation biology
• retrieve and present information about biodiversity and conservation biology effectively, communicate clearly with a variety of audiences in written and spoken forms
• critically analyse and evaluate information relevant to biodiversity and conservation biology
• appreciate the multidisciplinary aspect of studies in biodiversity and Conservation Biology and engage positively with people and ideas beyond the discipline
• work cooperatively and productively within a team
• work independently and take responsibility for updating and adapting their knowledge and skills
• appreciate the societal and ethical contexts of conservation biology, of human impacts on biodiversity and the professional practice of biologists.

The Honours Year provides students with advanced skills that are required for planning, funding and carrying out research projects in a specific area. It also aims to develop a range of transferable research, analytical and communication skills including the capacity to: 

• understand and apply relevant scientific principles
• retrieve and present scientific information, including communicating effectively with a variety of audiences in written and spoken form
• critically analyse and evaluate information and solve problems
• analyse and evaluate data, appreciate the multidisciplinary aspect of the science disciplines and engage positively with people and ideas beyond their own discipline area
• use information technology, work independently and take responsibility for updating and adapting their knowledge and skills
• appreciate the role of science in society, the regulatory framework within which it operates and the ethical issues it raises.

The program provides the foundations that will underpin ongoing professional development, preparing graduates for further studies in biodiversity and conservation biology or another science or non-science related discipline, or for a career in this or a related field, or in other areas where the range of skills and knowledge acquired is needed or desirable.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, students will be able to:

• understand and critically apply the theories, subject content, professional methodologies, ethical frameworks and research procedures relevant to studies of biodiversity and conservation biology
• understand the nature and historical basis of current threats to biological diversity and to understand the nature of conservation actions that can be undertaken to mitigate these threats
• analyse and critically evaluate ideas/information/data and apply relevant scientific principles to solve problems by, for example, creating hypotheses, testing theories and predictions, designing and conducting experiments and statistically analysing data
• undertake studies relating to biodiversity and conservation in both laboratory and field contexts
• communicate and present information clearly and fluently in both written and spoken forms
• appreciate the relationships between studies in biodiversity and conservation biology and other science and non-science disciplines, and appreciate the multidisciplinary nature of many studies in biodiversity and conservation biology
• have the capacity to work and learn independently, but also to be able to contribute effectively as part of a team in order to achieve common goals
• appreciate the need for continuing professional development.

In addition, graduates of the Honours year are expected to be able to:

• critically analyse the scientific literature and use this as a basis for planning research projects
• understand how scientific research is funded
• formulate hypothesises and design appropriate experiments to test them
• use appropriate methods, techniques, equipment and instrumentation to ethically collect scientific data
• use appropriate statistical methods to analyse scientific data
• communicate their findings to a variety of audiences in written and spoken form.

Program of study

To qualify for the Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Biodiversity and Conservation) a student must complete 144 units, with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study detailed below.

No more than 45 units of First Year level topics may be included in the 144 units for the degree. Topics designated 'any year' or with no year level specified are regarded as First Year level topics.

Elective topics to complete 144 units may be selected from any offered within the University or, with approval from the College of Science and Engineering, from outside the University, provided any course and prerequisite requirements are met.

Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.

Upon completion of at least 103.5 units and with a GPA of 5 or more in the last 36 units of study, students may commence the Fourth Year Honours program. Students who do not meet the GPA requirement will exit with the Bachelor of Science (Biodiversity and Conservation) on completion of 108 units.

Students who have completed 108 units according to the first three years of the program may choose to exit with the Bachelor of Science (Biodiversity and Conservation).

Specialisation - Biodiversity and Conservation - Year 1 topics

36 units comprising:

Core - Year 1 Topics

 BIOD1102  Introduction to Biodiversity and Conservation#  (4.5 units)
 BIOL1101  Evolution of Biological Diversity  (4.5 units)
 BIOL1102  Molecular Basis of Life  (4.5 units)
 STEM1001  Nature of STEM (4.5 units)
 STAT1122  Biostatistics  (4.5 units)

Option - Year 1 topics

Plus one pair of:

 CHEM1101  Chemical Structure and Bonding  (4.5 units) OR
 CHEM1201  General Chemistry  (4.5 units)

AND

 CHEM1202  Chemistry for the Life Sciences  (4.5 units)

OR

 EASC1101  Earth and Environmental Sciences#  (4.5 units) AND
 EASC1102  Marine Sciences  (4.5 units)

OR

 COMP1002  Fundamentals of Computational Intelligence  (4.5 units) AND
 COMP1102  Computer Programming 1  (4.5 units)

Elective - Year 1 topics

Plus a 4.5 unit elective topic^ from across the University where entry requirements are met.

Specialisation - Biodiversity and Conservation - Year 2 topics

36 units comprising:

Core - Year 2 Topics

 BIOD2701  Biodiversity and Conservation  (4.5 units)
 BIOL2701  Experimental Design and Statistics for Biology  (4.5 units)
 BIOL2702  Genetics, Evolution and Biodiversity  (4.5 units)
 BIOL2711  Ecology  (4.5 units)
 BIOL2712  Animal Diversity  (4.5 units)
 STEM1002  Introduction to Geographical Information Systems  (4.5 units)

Elective - Year 2 topics

Plus 9 units of elective topics^ from across the University where entry requirements are met.

Specialisation - Biodiversity and Conservation - Year 3 topics

36 units comprising:

Core - Year 3 Topics

 BIOD3701  Human Impacts and Biodiversity  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3701  Restoration Ecology  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3702  Marine and Freshwater Biology  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3711  Plant Biology  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3712  Integrative Physiology of Animals and Plants  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3722  Conservation and Ecological Genetics  (4.5 units)

Elective - Year 3 topics

Plus 9 units of elective topics#^ from across the University where entry requirements are met.

# Students are encouraged to enrol in STEM3001 Science Connect (4.5 units) as a third year elective.

Specialisation - Biodiversity and Conservation - Year 4 topics

36 units comprising*:

Core - Year 4 Topics

  BIOL7710  Honours Critical Readings  (4.5 units)
  BIOL7720  Honours Statistics and Research Design  (4.5 units)
  STEM7001  Research Methods for Honours  (4.5 units)
  STEM7000A  Honours Research Project in STEM  (4.5/22.5 units)
  STEM7000B  Honours Research Project in STEM  (4.5/22.5 units)
  STEM7000C  Honours Research Project in STEM  (4.5/22.5 units)
  STEM7000D  Honours Research Project in STEM  (4.5/22.5 units)
  STEM7000E  Honours Research Project in STEM  (4.5/22.5 units)

* With the permission of the Course Coordinator a 7xxx level topic that is appropriate to the student’s program may be substituted.

^Specialisation - Biodiversity and Conservation - Recommended Electives

While students are able to select elective units from anywhere across the University, these are Recommended Electives.

 BIOL1112  Biology and Society  (4.5 units)
 BIOL1301  Introduction to Marine Biology  (4.5 units)
 BIOL1711  Introduction to Animal Behaviour  (4.5 units)
 BIOL2721  Foundations of Animal Behaviour  (4.5 units)
 BIOL2722  Disease and Immunology  (4.5 units)
 BIOL2742  Marine Ecology  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3703  Vertebrate Palaeontology  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3721  Research in Animal Behaviour  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3791  Ecology and Geomorphology of Coastal Environments  (4.5 units)
 EASC2702  Global Climate Change (4.5 units)
 ENVS2731  Coastal Processes (4.5 units)
 GEOG2142  Environment, Economy and Culture  (4.5 units)
 GEOG3040  Environmental Impact Assessment  (4.5 units)
 GEOG3111  Introduction to Managing Coastal and Marine Environments  (4.5 units)
 GEOG3133 Adapting to Climate Change (4.5 units)
 STEM1003  GIS Airborne and Ground Data Capture for all Disciplines  (4.5 units)
 STEM2001  Remote Sensing for all Disciplines  (4.5 units)
 STEM2003  Airborne Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry  (4.5 units)
 STEM3003  Modelling in Space and Time, Geostatistics and GIS  (4.5 units)
 STEM3100  Research Project in Science  (4.5 units)

Combined degrees

The Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Biodiversity and Conservation) may also be studied in a combined degree program with another Bachelor degree in the College of Science and Engineering where the combination meets the requirements of the credit transfer policy.